Game-board



L. V. BENNETT.

` G A M E B 0 A B D.

APPLICATION ED MAY l2, 1917. I 1,839,013. Patented May 4.1920. I 2EEEEEEEEEEEE 2- /I Y l l yr .unlllmmmL museauWmzszimwumummwwmmumwmumunwuuunu LELAND v. BENNETT, or wEsTEEvIELE, oHIo.

GAME-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application led May 12, 191'?. Serial No. 168,206.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LELAND V. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Westerville, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Boards, ofwhich the following is a speci'cation.

This invention relates to game boards, and more particularly to a gameboard upon which may be played various games closely resembling the wellknown game of checkers and kindred games, and it is the primary aim ofthe invention to provide in a game board of the class mentioned. a novelarrangement of the active spaces within the playing field by reason ofwhich arrangement more intricate, complicated and interesting problemsand situations may be met with than in the use of the ordinary Y checkerboard.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a game board of the classmentioned which, has such an arrangement of active playing spaces as toadapt the board for use by an uneven number of players specifispaces ofthe other fields so that the entire.

playing area comprises the aggregate spaces of all fields.

Another aim of the invention is to produce a three-way checker boardwhose playing area is composed of three overlapping fields as describedabove, eachfield having a king row in front of a player which is theobjective of the other two players.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating one triply symmetrical arrangementvin accordance with the principles ofthisinvention;

Fig. 2 is aview illustrating a doubly symmetrical arrangement of theplaying spaces, in combination with a border design suitable for theplaying of other games, for which the present invention provides;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, illustrating a different doubly symmetricalarrangement;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view illustrating .TOW/S.

one pattern for playing space, which may be substituted for the plainplaying space;

Fig. 5 is a similar View illustrating two methods of especially4designating certain spaces. v

Vhile the guresof the drawings illustrate various arrangements oftheplaying spaces of the board it will lbe understood that a single boardmay have but one playing area or that the board may be provided uponeach of its two faces with a playing area, the areas embodying differentarrangements of the playing spaces. It will also be understood that thearrangements here shown are to be taken as merely illustrative of theprinciples of the invention and that, therefore, various otherarrangements may be made use of, if desired.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. l of the drawings the playing area as awhole is a composite structure made up of three like players fields, andeach field is composed of a plurality of playing spaces, each spacehaving the geometrical form of a hexagon and the adjacent side lines ofsuch spaces as are contiguous being coincident. The

. playing spaces of the respective fields are preferably distinguishedby different markings-specifically as by being made in threedistinguishing colors, spaces indicated by the numerall being of such adistinguishing color, for example, as black, the spaces indicated by thenumeral 2 being preferably white, and the spaces indicated by thenumeral 3, being preferably red. The spaces lo f each field are arrangedin rows which are parallel to each other and parallel to all sides ofthe playing area as a whole. It will be, observed` that they spaces ofeach field ordistinguishing. color in the several rows are arranged atintervals and relatively in staggered relation, and it will beunderstood that'therows o f the several fields comprising the spaces 1,2 and 3, and indicated specifically respectively in the figure by thenumerals la, 2a, and 3a, constitute the king The players positions atthe game board as a whole, which in this case is a regular heXagon, areat alternate sides thereof and preferably indicated by stripes 1b, 2b,and 3b drawn along chordal lines on the face of the board and colored tocorrespond with of each field are interspersed with a row each of spacesfrom the other fields. For example, between the king row 1a of the blackspaces and the next row of black spaces 1 there is interposed a row ofwhite spaces 2 and a row of red spaces 3, thespaces 2 being located instaggered relation to or diagonally forward of the spaces 1a of the kingrow, and the spaces 3 being located in staggered relation to ordiagonally forward of said spaces 2 and immediately in advance ofcorresponding spaces 1a of the king row, this arrangement being followedthroughout the entire playing area of the board. As before stated, aboard thus arranged is adapted for use by three players in a threewaychecker game, each uncrowned game piece having three moves in advance,in

place lof two as in the ordinary game of checkers, and each crownedpiece having six possible moves instead of four. Each player is providedwith eight game pieces which are placed upon the spaces 1, 2 and 3nearest the stripe adjacent which he is seated. For example, a playeroccupying that side of the board adjacent the black stripe 1 will placea game piece upon each space in his king row l, a game piece upon eachspace 2 in that row diagonally adjacent the king row, a game piece uponeach space 3 in that row immediately in advance of the king row, and asingle game piece in the row immediately in advance of said spaces 2,and in that particular black space thereof which is located between andin advance of said spaces 3. rlhe moves and plays are substantially thesame as in the ordinary game of checkers, the distinguishing features,however, being that each and every space constitutes an active playingspace and the spaces are so inter-related that each player may move hisgame pieces forward in three ways, viz., either perpendicular to theline of'his king row, or diagonally to the right at an angle of thirtydegrees, or diagonally to the left at an angle of thirty degrees. Itwill be understood, of course, that the two remaining king rowsconstitute a double objective, and a game piece may be crowned ineither; after which it may be moved 'either directly backward ordiagonally toward the right or left, as well as in the three directionsfirst-mentioned.

In any of the arrangements of game board areas, spaces which by virtueof their position have a special significance in the resulting games maybe designated, in addition to the designation mentioned above, bygeometrical figures. For example, the king row spaces may be designatedby stars 9, as in Fig. 5. As represented this space is of the color ofthe spaces designated by the numeral 2 in Fig. 1 and the star therein isof the same color, for example, as one of the spaces designated by theVnumeral' in Fig. 1.

Of course, other arrangements may be eml ployed or for decorative effectthe whole playing space may be composed ofsubspaces into which the threecolors have been symmetrically worked by a geometrical pattern, as shownat 8 in Fig. 4.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the hexagonal spacesare in three distinguishing colors, symbols, or designs with a two-waysymmetry, and in this arrangement the board is adapted for use by twoplayers and there are, consequently, two king rows instead of three asin the previously described form of the invention. Each player may, ofcourse, nieve his uncrowned game pieces (men) and hiscrowned game pieces(kings) as before. In this figure the spaces of one kind are indicatedby the numeral 10, the spaces of another kind by the numeral 11, and thespaces of a third kind by the numeral 12, and it will be ob# servedthat, viewing the board from that side at which the king row of thespaces 10 is located, the spaces 11 are located in staggered relation tothe spaces 10 and the spaces 12 are located in staggered relation to thespaces 11, the arrangement approximating that shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, althoughin Fig. 2 each row comprises the same number ofspaces.In other words', the playing area as a whole is rectangular in generaloutline. ln Fig. 2 there are three of `the spaces 10 in each rowcomprising its kind and the same is true of the spaces 11 and 12 in therows comprising the kinds to' which they respectively belong.

Fig. 2 of the drawings illustrates a surface of the game board which mayhave a border design around its playing area adapting the board for usein playing some other kind of game, as for example, the game of pachisi.

Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates an ar rangement of the surfacesubstantially the same as that shown in Fig. 2, except, however, thatthe middle transverse rows of spaces each contain more spaces than theother rows. Also if desired, as shown in this figure, the spaces uponwhich the game pieces are to be initially placed may be consecutivelynumbered, commencing either with the king row as illustrated in thelower portion of the View, or withl theinitial row as illustrated in theupper portion, or the entire playing spaces may be numbered according toother plans.I n the arrangement shown inFigs. 2 and 3 of the drawingseach player is provided with twelve game pieces which are placed uponthe spaces in the four rows nearest that side of the board at which theplayer is seated and ythe moves are made as before explained.

Two of the several games which may be played by the use of the vgameboard are described as follows: )j

Use area as shown in Fig. 2. Two playlOO 4ner of the board'which has thelarge hexagon in border design. Each player places his twelve pieces onthe spaces nearest him. Play proceeds asin old-style checkers, each gamepiece having the option of two forward moves. spaces on opposite side ofboard, piece is crowned a king, and can then move backward in addition,now having four moves. When such king finally reaches his home king row,it is again crowned, becoming a Triple king and being permitted inaddition to move laterally, now having six moves.

Use area as shown in Fig. 3. Each of the two players places nine nien ofsame color, on spaces numbered 4-112. Three neutral men of differentcolor, preferably' red, are placed on the front ranks of each group,spaces numbered 1-3, making a total of six neutral men. The neutral menbelong to neither player. They are, however, moved by either playerjumping over such neutral or neutrals with man or king as in three-waycheckers. This move is to any adjacent unoccupied space excepting thespace from which said man or king jumps, and on which he lands. If it isimpossible to thus move the neutral, such jump over the neutral can notbe made. The same neutral can not be jumped twice in the same turn. Whena neutral is moved into space 9, or when two or more neutrals are onadjacent spaces along the sides of the board, they necessarily remaininactive the rest of the game. The object of the game is to capture allthe adversarys pieces by (first) so placing the n eutrals that they arestepping stones for men or kings to strike at the enemy, or (second)working the neutrals back into the players own king row, when they maybe exchanged for playing pieces. A neutral may be jumped or not, but anadversarys piece must always be jumped, if opportunity affords.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A game board having chordal stripes at points near its edgeindicating positions for an uneven number of players and distinctivelycolored, its face bearing a composite playing area made up of fields,one for each player, and each composed of spaces disposed atl intervalsin rows parallel When reaching any of the six with the respectiveplayers stripe and colored to correspond therewith, said spaces beinginterspersed with the spaces of the other fields.

2. A game board having chordal stripes at three equi-distant points nearits edge, the stripes marked to indicate the positions of three players,the face of the board bearing a composite playing area made up of threeoverlapping fields of spaces of the same arrangement but distinctivemarkings in the several fields, the spaces composing each field beingdisposed at intervals in rows parallel with the respective stripe andthe rows interspersed with the spaces of the other two fields.

3. A game board having players positions at three equi-distant pointsaround its edge, its face bearing a composite playing area made up ofthree fields of spaces of the same arrangement but different colors inthe several fields, the spaces of one color being disposed at intervalsand staggered in parallel rows and interspersed with the spaces of theother fields, those of a second coloi` diagonal to the spaces in thefirst row and alined with those in the next, and those of the thirdcolor alined with the spaces in the first row and diagonal to those inthe next, and so on.

4. A game board of' hexagonal contour having means for indicating thepositions of three players at alternating sides thereof, the face of theboard bearing a composite playing area made up of three fields ofplaying spaces, said spaces being of identical ar rangement in the threefields and all those in each field bearing a distinctive color.

5. A checker board of hexagonal contour adapted for three players atequi-distant positions around its edge, its face bearing a compositeplaying area made up oi three fields of hexagonal spaces whereof allthose in each field are of one color different from the others, eachfield being composed of spaces at intervals in a king row transverse tothe players vposition and other spaces at intervals in additional rows,all rows being parallel and the spaces in contiguous rows respectivelystaggered, and the spaces in the rows throughout said field beinginterspersed with the spaces of the other two fields.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LELAND v. BENNETT. [1.. s]

